Goldman Sachs is widely considered within investment banking circles as a best-in-breed money-making machine envied by its rivals, but 16% of asset managers do not respect the firm, and 19% only respect it a bit.

This insight arrives, courtesy of the latest annual Barron’s survey of how much respect the world’s 100 biggest listed companies command http://bit.ly/bGzfYF.

The US bank ranked 30th in the respect stakes, behind Wall Street rival JPMorgan Chase, which is not respected by just 3% of managers, flying the flag for banks in 21st spot overall. However, the two banks can console themselves by being "highly respected" by 39% of managers.

At the bottom of the the list, Citigroup, placed behind Russia's Gazprom in 99th slot, was disrespected by 67% of managers and was highly respected by precisely none. From which point, hopefully, Citi can only surprise on the upside. UBS scarcely fared much better, in 96th place.

US banks lagged way behind Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, last year’s runner-up which was placed fifth this time around and is “highly respected” by 54% of money managers.

Top of the pile overall, up from fourth spot last year, was electronics giant Apple, which is highly respected by two-thirds of managers and disrespected by a mere 1% - the kind of stats bankers everywhere will envy in the current environment.